Banding waterfowl (and other birds) help biologists track migrations, populations, mortality and many other things they use in their research. The bands are numbered, with a phone number to call (or an address to send data). When you respond, you are asked a number of questions like where and when you bagged the bird. Sometimes the data is so vital that a reward is offered for responding (like the green band that was posted). Biologists also tag or mark fish for similar reasons that birds are banded. There have been ducks taken here in the US that were banded in Siberia, giving biologists valuable data on migration routes.
Waterfowlers have kinda glamourized collecting bands and lots of bragging goes on. Lots of bands are displayed on hunters call lanyards. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I think they are banding less than in previous years. Most of my bands were collected in the 60's & 70's. I just hope that some of the results I submitted have helped in the management of waterfowl populations.
